Frank umbriaco



April 24, 1928.

F. UMBRIACO arch l, 1927 Patented Apr. 24, 1928.

FRANK UMBBIACO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ACCORDION KEYBOARD.

Application filed March 1, 1927. Serial No. 171,736.

This invention relates to improvements in accordion key boards, and more particularly to the manner of mounting the keys in the said key board.

One object of the invention is to so mount the keys in the keyboard, that each key can be readily and independently removed for repairs.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in an accordion keyboard that will prevent the sticking or binding of the key on its fulcrum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snap key fulcrum in an accordion key board.

Other objects and novel features in construction of my invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a fragmental view in perspective of an accordion provided with a piano keyboard for its treble keys in the mounting of which my invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. 1 and Figure 3 is 'a fragmental view looking from the left of Fig. 2 showing a portion of the key mounting.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates an accordion provided with a piano keyboard 6 for the treble keys 7 thereof. In the accordions now in common use these keys are pivoted for operation upon a common pivot rod. Due to this mode of mounting the said keys, it becomes necessary when one of these keys needs to be repaired to pull out this rod and thus disassemble the entire key board. It also happens that due to weather conditions, the keys which are generally made of wood, swell and bind on the fulcrum rod, and to remedy this, the keyboard has to be disassembled and the pivot hole enlarged, to operate freely on the rod.

' To avoid all this labor, I provide a pivot or fulcrum 8 in the shape of a snap fastener comprising a male portion 9 on the key 7 pivotally and readily and releasably engaging a female portion 10 provided with sections 11 of resilient wire spaced apart to form a resilient mouth 12 for the spherical head 13 to pass and protrude into the spherical bearing 1a in the portion 10 which may be secured by any suitable means as for instance, by soldering it to a metal plate 15 secured to the base 16 of the keyboard casing 17. The keys 7 are suitable spaced apart by guides or partitions 18 and 19 by which means the keys are maintained in proper operable alinement. Each of the keys is provided at its lower end with a rod 20 provided with a valve cover 21 normally closing a valve opening 22, opening into the reed chamber 23 in communication with the usual bellows 24. The keys are also provided with springs 25 which normally tend to close the valve opening 22.

From the above it will be clearly seen that I have provided means for so mounting the keys of an accordian keyboard, that weather conditions will not affect the operation of the keys, and if any of the keys should require repairs, the said key can readily be withdrawn from the pivot socket without disturbing any of the other keys.

While I have illustrated and described my invention in connection with a piano type keyboard for accordions, I desire it understood that the same may be embodied in other analogous devices without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a keyboard, a key, and a snap fulcrum operably connected to the key and the keyboard casing.

2. In a keyboard, a key, and a ball and socket snap connection forming a releasable fulcrum operably connected to the key and the keyboard casing.

3. In a keyboard provided with a casing, a key, a ball and socket snap connection forming a releasable fulcrum, the said fulcrum comprising a member secured to the key intermediate its ends and a second member secured to the keyboard casing and releasably connected to the first mentioned member.

4. In an accordion key-board provided with a casing, a key, a snap connection comprising a member secured to the key intermediate its ends, and a second member on the keyboard casing in pivotal and releasable engagement with the first mentioned member.

5. In an accordion keyboard provided with a casing, a plurality of keys, a member on each of the keys intermediate their ends,

a complementary member for each of the leasable fulcrum comprising a, member sefirst mentioned members forming snap joint cured to the key and a second member sefulcrums therebetween, and means for se,- cured to the'casing, oneof the said fulcrum 10 curing the second mentioned members to the parts being adapted to snap into the other. 5 casing. 7' In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my 6. In an accordion keyboard provided signature. with a casing, a key and a pivotal and-nee v FRANK UMBRIACOF 

